- Though, when it comes to paperback editions of The Hobbit, my number one choice has to be the Puffin Hobbit (1961) with the glorious wrap-around cover illustration by Pauline Baynes. A wonderful piece of work!

I also like the fact that I can read this paperback knowing that all the spelling mistakes (except one) have been corrected, after all what did a English Professor from Oxford University know This edition paperback is my reading copy of the book, but is in terrible condition compared with the copy shown.

Did Tolkien ever get an apology for this from Penguin Books? I agree with garm that the cover is excellent and it is a shame that it was never reused.